The exhibition of more than sixty-five paintings and works on paper by Pennsylvania artist Violet Oakley and others, entitled "Violet Oakley's Spirit of History: 1895-1961," opened at the gallery followed by a lecture by noted Oakley scholar Dr. Bailey Van Hook at Degenstein Center Theater at 7:30 p.m. Van Hook is the Professor of Art History at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blackburg, VA, and has been working on a definitive biography of Oakley, artist of the Pennsylvania Capitol Building murals, for several years. The exhibition brings to light a review of Oakley's art and the milieu in which it was created, given her work was last shown in the 1970's. With efforts from curators Jane Richardson and Sara Herlinger, a number of opportunities await the viewers of this exhibition. Richardson has located Oakley's military altarpieces in triptych form which was created for the Bethesda Naval Hospital around the end of World War II. Titled The Pool of Bethesda: Arise, Take Up Thy Bed and Walk, 1945, the painting, on wood panel in three sections that fold for portability, describes healing of the ill by Jesus. The United States Nazy Art Collection has lent the painting to Susquehanna University specifically for this exhibition. It represents one of the approximtely twenty-four altarpieces created by Oakley, which have not been seen by the general public nor documented in the artist's oeuvre. Records concerning the commission are, as yet, undiscovered, however, the exhibition of this important work provides the opportunity for future research by art historians. Other paintings and drawings in the exhibition will review Oakeley's sylistic developement in her studies for the Pennsylvania Capitol, including her sketchbook for Senate Chamber murals; panels for the International Law Series and the International Court of Justice; William Penn in Oxford, England, and others, located by Herlinger, Lore Degenstein Gallery curator. Earlier, Herlinger had worked on a small exhibition for the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee held at the State Capitol Building and provided research for their 2004 book on Violet Oakley. The current exhibition also includes Oakeley's art from institutional collections of the National Portrait Gallery, the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Woodmere Museum of Art, The Drexel Collection, Drexel University, The Delaware Art Museum, Brandywine River Museum, The Free Library of Philadelphia, the R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Dr. Valerie Livingston   The Pool of Bethesda: Arise, Take Up Thy Bed and Walk, Violet Oakley, painting on wood panel, 1945